Israel pressures EU and UK to label Houthi rebels as terrorists Following escalating attacks

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has directed Israeli diplomatic missions in the European Union and the United Kingdom to lobby for the Houthi group (Ansar Allah) in Yemen to be officially designated as a terrorist organisation, in response to a series of attacks on Israel by the group.

The move follows recent escalations in Houthi aggression, including ballistic missile strikes that hit a school building and playground in central Israel, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement, Caliber.Az reports via Israeli media.

These attacks are part of a larger wave of hostilities that have intensified since October 7,  when the Houthis began launching hundreds of missiles, drones, and cruise missiles at Israel.

Since October, the Houthis have been relentlessly targeting Israel, with their leaders publicly stating their intent to continue the attacks. The group has also stated their aim to obstruct international freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, a crucial maritime passage.

In total, over 100 ships, including European-flagged vessels, have been targeted by Houthi missiles and drones in the Red Sea since October 7, 2024, Israeli officials reported. This marks a growing threat to global maritime trade, especially in one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry further pointed out that the Houthi leadership has made several aggressive statements about continuing their attacks on Israel, with Houthi officials pledging to “block freedom of navigation” in the Red Sea and insisting on their resolve to disrupt international trade routes.

Israeli authorities continue to accuse the Houthi group of being Iranian proxies, receiving financial, military, and operational support from the Iranian regime. The ministry stressed that Iran’s backing has been crucial to the Houthis' ability to carry out sustained attacks on Israel and on European-controlled ships in the region.

"Since October 7, the continuous attacks on Israel by the Houthis have included the use of hundreds of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and UAVs. In addition, the heads of the Houthis have publicly stated that they will continue to attack Israel and obstruct freedom of navigation in the Red Sea area," the Israeli Foreign Ministry said.

The statement added, "Among the ships attacked by the Houthis so far are dozens of European-flagged and European-controlled vessels. In total, more than 100 ships have been attacked in the area since October 7. The Houthis are agents of the Iranian regime, which is using them to further destabilise the region. As has been repeatedly stated in official UN Security Council reports, the Houthis rely on the active assistance of the Iranian regime, which finances, arms, equips, and provides them with operational assistance."

Saar emphasized that the Houthis pose a significant threat not only to Israel but to global shipping and regional stability. He called on the international community to follow the United States, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Canada, and other nations in officially recognizing the Houthis as a terrorist organisation.

"The Houthis are a threat not only to Israel but to the region and the world," Saar stated. "A direct threat to freedom of navigation on one of the busiest sea lanes is a challenge to the international community and world order. The first and baseline step is to define them as a terrorist organisation."

This call comes after similar actions by other countries, including the US, Saudi Arabia, and Israel, which have already listed the Houthis as a terrorist group due to their ongoing attacks and ties to Iran. The UN Security Council has also echoed concerns regarding the Houthis’ destabilizing role in the region.

In addition to diplomatic efforts, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that Israel has been carrying out military operations against Houthi targets in Yemen. In a statement to the Knesset (Israeli Parliament), Netanyahu revealed that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have attacked strategic Houthi assets in Yemen as part of a broader effort to weaken the group’s operational capabilities.

"Together with Defence Minister Israel Katz, we instructed the IDF to attack the strategic sites of the Houthis, destroying significant terrorist assets," Netanyahu said. "This is not the first and will not be the last attack. We have established a very simple principle: whoever tries to harm Israel will be harmed in return with uncompromising force."

Netanyahu also reiterated that Israel’s military will continue to act decisively against the Houthis and their supporters in the region, including Iran, which has long been accused of backing militant groups in the Middle East.

"Israel is strengthening its deterrent power, it is striking at its enemies, and destroying Iran's terrorist satellites one by one," Netanyahu asserted.

By Tamilla Hasanova